Clear aligner instruments from Hu-Friedy

Hu-Friedy has launched a new line of instruments specifically designed to work with clear orthodontic aligners. The new Hu-Friedy Clear Collection offers Orthodontists four instruments that help accent, individualise and optimise the biomechanics of clear aligners in the practice.

Due to the recent clear aligner trend in orthodontics, Hu-Friedy in partnership with Hu-Friedy Thought Leader and specialist orthodontist, Dr. S. Jay Bowman DMD MSD, designed the Clear Collection to help streamline the treatment process. Each instrument within the collection has a unique function that, when properly applied to clear aligners, allows for easier in-office adjustments and tweaks. Instruments include:

• The Tear Drop - An instrument that creates a notch at the gingival margin of clear aligners where elastic hooks are required within the arch. It also provides a reservoir to hold the elastics in place, permitting easy manipulation of elastics by the patient;
• The Vertical - Focuses on over-correction of rotations by producing an indentation at the mesial or distal angles of a tooth;
• The Horizontal - Creates an indentation to accent individual root torque. Retention of either the clear aligners or retainers is enhanced by placing this indent into a tooth's undercut or below a bonded attachment; and
• The Hole Punch - creates a half moon cutout for relief of clear aligners around bonded buttons used for elastics. It also can nip away plastic to provide soft tissue clearance to prevent aligner impingement of tissue.

"Hu-Friedy's Thought Leader program enables us to create cutting edge products inspired by professionals that are leaders in their field of dental expertise," said Ken Serota, President of Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co., LLC. "The Clear Collection is an example of this relationship. Our collaboration with Dr. S. Jay Bowman led to the launch of a new generation of innovative orthodontic instruments designed to help ease the clear aligner experience for both the practitioner and the patient by allowing on-the-spot aligner modifications."